The Phoenix Prince

by Kristen Gupton

“It’s all right. Everything is all right, now.” Keiran looked to the side, feeling Jerris’ relief clear enough.

  The guard quickly examined Keiran. The prince’s torso was streaked and smeared with blood, though the wound from the sword was no longer visible. With Keiran shirtless, he noticed the difference in the vampire’s physique. It begged a question from him. “Keir, what happened out there?”

  “That thing pulled me off the balcony and into the river. I managed to get away from it somehow, and I fled,” he said. Keiran didn’t feel the need to include the part about Athan intervening. His expression darkened and he closed his eyes. “I got into the trees, trying to make it back home, and Peirte was there. I had no choice.”

  Jerris stepped closer and put a hand on Keiran’s shoulder, able to deduce what had happened. The blood on Keiran’s face made it obvious enough. The guard felt no pity for whatever Peirte would have suffered through at the prince’s hands. “Keir, it’s all right. He’s dead, I’m hoping?”

  “Aye.”

  “Good, then. He won’t be missed.” Jerris managed up a smile. “And you’re all right?”

  “I’ve never been better,” Keiran replied. He turned to look in the direction of the others. “I want to go home.”

  Jerris nodded and removed his cloak, moving around and placing it over Keiran’s shoulders before guiding him over to the horses. “Then let’s get on with it.”

  Keiran nodded and moved with him. He heard something in the trees and looked back, spotting a large, black raven sitting in a dead tree.

  It cocked its head to the side, looking down at the vampire with one, teal eye. It gave a quiet, but distinctly unbird-like laugh, before flying off to the north. It thought that, just maybe, Keiran would turn out all right.

  Chapter 11

  There was a strange quiet in the castle after Keiran returned. Some of the guards had gone into the forest to try and find Peirte’s body, but all they’d come across were the tattered remnants of his clothes and his sword. Nothing of the man himself was left, as the demon familiar had consumed his physical body in its entirety. Not that anyone minded. Though having the body would have been evidence of his death, they were willing to accept Keiran’s word for it. The prince wouldn’t have made such a thing up. It was for the best that the former councillor was gone, and no one regretted it.

  Keiran was adamant about going straight to his quarters and washing up. Corina had gushed over him when he’d returned, and Kanan had a few words for him as well, but Keiran had managed to pull himself away. For the time being, he wasn’t in the mood to be social. He refused food and wine, disappearing into his room and locking the door.

  He washed up and dressed, getting himself back somewhere close to normal. Landing in a chair in front of the fire, he stared into the flames and let his mind wander off. The rage that had overtaken him in the forest was long gone. He couldn’t say that he felt different for having killed Peirte; there was no sudden urge to kill again or go on any tirade. The only clear change was that the former councillor’s blood had left the vampire now feeling strong and in perfect health. Keiran couldn’t remember ever feeling as good physically. The long-standing ache of his unfulfilled thirst was completely and truly gone.

  There were thoughts about the moral implications of having killed Peirte. It had been the only solution, as nothing else would have stopped him. The councillor had been nothing short of evil, and Keiran accepted that. The problem was, though, that he knew it was entirely possible he would have killed Peirte even if his own life hadn’t been in immediate danger. He’d wanted the man’s blood, and he’d been very close to ripping his head off in the throne room earlier. These weren’t the big issues, though. Something else was nagging in the depths of his mind, he just couldn’t pin it down.

  …or he wasn’t willing to admit it, yet.

  He started to wonder how Thana was. Even though he’d been through hell in the course of the evening, his thoughts landed on the girl and refused to go away. Keiran had a small fear that she’d avoid him completely after what had happened. Something had passed between them in the dining hall, though he wasn’t sure he could name it. Maybe it had just been his thirst getting the better of him when faced with her blood. He couldn’t say for certain, but he wanted to see her again sooner rather than later. Going to her room to find out would have been looked down upon, however. The servant’s wing was supposed to be off limits to him. There was some sort of rule about it for whatever reason, though his father had gone there many times to chew out assorted people who’d made him angry.

  Regardless, he knew that his simple boyhood crush on the girl had moved into something stronger. The ache of his unsatisfied bloodlust was being replaced with a tense sort of unease. He wanted so badly to be able to spend time with Thana and talk to her freely, but how could he? The girl’s mother wasn’t well for whatever she already believed to be happening, even if there wasn’t anything going on at all. The whole issue of legality over royalty and servants started to stir his anger, but he forced himself to calm down and let it go. There was nothing he could do about it, yet. It was selfish, and he didn’t really know Thana’s take on the issue, either. He’d felt things from her, but he wasn’t confident enough to make assumptions about it. That seemed like a good way to end up more hurt if she ultimately rejected him.

  Keiran leaned forward and put his head in his hands. He didn’t realize how much his previous physical state had kept him from worrying about Thana until then. There was no longer that chronic distraction twisting through his mind, and his heart was finally speaking up. He wasn’t sure that he could stand not knowing exactly where he stood with her for much longer. Everything else in his life seemed determined to get shaken up, so it figured that this would, too.

  There was a knock on his door a while later, stirring him from this thoughts. “Who’s there?”

  “Me,” Jerris replied.

  Keiran bit the inside of his cheek, debating on what to do. He knew the guard wanted to make sure he was all right, but the prince honestly needed to be alone. Getting up, he moved to the door and opened it a little, looking out into the corridor. “Is something wrong?”

  Jerris shrugged. “Not really, I just thought I’d check on you. Can I come in?”

  For the first time that he could remember, Keiran declined. Though he had a lot of issues on his mind, his friendship with the guard was solid and didn’t need working on, he thought. “Tonight I think I want to be alone. It’s nothing personal, I’ve just got a lot to think about.”

  The guard looked crestfallen, but he tried as best he could to take it in stride. Keiran had been through hell, and much of it he couldn’t relate to. He put his hands behind his back, hiding away the ale bottles he’d brought along. “Aye, I suppose you do. You have the coronation tomorrow. Corina said it’s going forward come hell or high water.”

  Keiran nodded. “I know, and that’s fine. I don’t think we’ll have anymore complications in the way with Peirte gone.”

  Jerris lingered there for a moment, wanting to ask him again if he could come in. Even if Keiran didn’t need the company, Jerris did. Tomorrow, their worlds would both be changing, and he was reluctant to let go. Despite Keiran’s previous claims that their relationship wouldn’t be any different after the coronation, he couldn’t help but think otherwise. It wasn’t like Keiran was getting a job as a shepherd. He was becoming the king. That was about as big as it got in their world.

  The strength of Jerris’ worry and thoughts weighed on Keiran heavily. Still, he wasn’t sure he was up to dealing with it at that point. As much as it hurt him, and as much as he knew it would upset Jerris, he told him goodnight and then relocked his door. The guard was strong, he’d survive.

  Jerris stayed there in the hallway for several moments. Things were already changing, he feared. He turned and slowly retreated back to the barracks and tucked himself in for the night. The ales went untouched, placed under his small bed. He would just save them
for later.

  Try as they might, neither the prince nor the guard ever managed to fall asleep.

  * * *

  In the morning, Keiran was still in the chair. He forced himself up and changed into the outfit that had been left for him to wear to the coronation. It was black as had been the one he’d been provided for his father’s cremation, but instead of a doublet over a shirt, this one had a quasi-military style coat and a purple sash to go over his chest. On went his brass and black leather sword belt with his rapier, and he even went to the effort to put his brass riding spurs on.

  He went over and looked at himself in the mirror, but drifted off into thought. Keiran supposed he looked the part, but he wished he had a different life. He shook his head and turned away, heading downstairs. There were probably plenty of people that would change places with him in a heartbeat if it were that simple.

  There was activity everywhere, as the final preparations for the party were underway. Servants were carrying things out to the various wagons waiting in the courtyard, as the banquet itself would be held in the plaza in front of the cathedral.

  Keiran moved through the crowd, off in his own world. Even though he hadn’t slept, he wasn’t tired in the least. There was some surfacing stage fright in his gut that he expected to get a whole lot worse once he arrived at the cathedral. Mercifully, that day’s event would be much shorter than what he’d endured before. There wouldn’t be any physical pain involved, either. Frankly, Keiran felt like he’d had enough of that lately.

  Corina found him and offered up a small embrace with her good arm. She looked him over afterward. She could see the physical change in him, and the difference in the way he was carrying himself. Though Jerris hadn’t told her that Keiran had taken blood from Peirte, she was able to figure it out. It didn’t bother her, however. She thought it to be nothing more than justice served. To see the prince looking healthy did her heart good. “You look very nice, Keir. Are you ready to head into town, or would you like something to eat first?”

  “Not hungry, actually. Is everything ready?”

  “Aye, it is. Everyone’s been working most of the night, though a lot of it was already done the other day. The food is being prepared now. Someone found out how to cook bear, thankfully. There are a few in the castle that say they’ve had it before and claim it’s good. I’ll defer to their judgement on it,” she replied. Corina leaned in closer. “Before we go, though, I think you should go spend a few minutes with Jerris. He’s out getting your horse ready. Poor boy was moping around pretty badly this morning.”

  Keiran quirked a brow. “He’s grooming my horse? That’s not his job. Did he say why?”

  “No, but he won’t let anybody else in the stable, and he won’t talk,” she said.

  He looked to the side and nodded, thinking he knew exactly what was up. He patted her uninjured shoulder and headed out into the courtyard and toward the stables.

  Jerris’ horse, Patrice, was out in front of the stable. She had on all of her tack but wasn’t tied to anything. The horse had knocked over a waste bin and was foraging through the contents for rotten fruit. Keiran patted her on the neck and led her to a hitching post, getting her tied up safely before heading inside.

  Keiran’s large mount was tied up and saddled within. Jerris was standing next to him with a brush in his hand, staring off in a daze. After a sleepless night and all the drama of the past week, the young guard was honestly exhausted. He’d managed to get his dress uniform on, but that looked to be about as much as he’d bothered with his appearance.

  The prince stopped beside his friend, picking up all sorts of jumbled thoughts and emotions. “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself,” Jerris said, tossing the brush over to the box they were stored in. He turned to face Keiran, forcing up a smile. “Porter’s all ready for you.”

  “I know it’s not your job, but I appreciate it,” Keiran replied. “Patrice was in the garbage again.”

  Jerris nodded and sighed, shoulders slumping as he turned away. “Yeah, she does that. Sorry for it. Thinks she’s a damn dog. Probably why she’s so fat and slow.”

  “It’s all right, I took care of it.” Keiran reached out and put a hand on Jerris’ shoulder, making him turn to face him again. He did his best to consciously stop reading his friend’s feelings, opting to try and talk it out like a normal person. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  Jerris averted his eyes to the side. “We’ve already been over the part where I think things are going to change between us a few days ago. You say they won’t, but… Keir, you’re my only real friend. The other guards treat me strange since my father is their boss, and they know that sooner or later, I’ll be taking his place. Add to that my association with you, and I’m sure you can figure out how the other guards feel about me. I don’t belong with them, and after I failed you twice now, well, that didn’t help my reputation amongst them, either. I should quit. I can’t take care of you, obviously. I’m incompetent, just like they say.”

  “Wait.” Keiran crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. He had always been able to tell that Jerris didn’t enjoy much camaraderie with the other guards. The redhead had often been marginalized to some degree, and it had to be tough to work under those conditions. The failure comment took precedence over that, though. “You haven’t failed me.”

  “I have. I didn’t stop you from getting shot on the hunting trip, and yesterday, I didn’t stop you from getting pulled over the balcony. What good am I?”

  Keiran’s jaw tensed. Jerris looked utterly depressed to him, and he didn’t like it. “No one could have stopped me from getting shot on the hunt. You know that it’s a simple fact nothing would have kept me from going after that white deer. I thought I was going to fulfill some damn fairy tale of a legend by getting it. Besides, Porter happens to be the fastest horse in the stable. There isn’t any way that you could have kept up. I was the one who ran off ahead, knowing full well you’d be left behind. That’s all on me.”

  Jerris didn’t look comforted by that. “It still happened. And then the balcony? Keir, I fell asleep for God’s sake! Passed right out on the bed. I should have been at your side and stopped that thing from pulling you over.”

  “You fell asleep because you’ve been through a lot and were exhausted. I can’t fault you for that. Besides, if you’d tried to stop it and gotten a hold on me, Jerris, you know what would have happened?” Keiran asked.

  The guard brought his gaze up to meet the vampire’s, remaining quiet.

  “You would have been pulled over with me. The demon would have taken us both down. That fall would have killed you. What good would that have done? You’d have died, and God only knows how long it would have taken someone to realize we were both missing. Who would have sent out a party to look for us? Where would they have even thought to start looking?”

  “You ended up doing just fine, though. You found the search party, we didn’t find you. By then, you’d already dealt with the demon and Peirte. You would have found your way home with no problem.” Jerris closed his eyes and sighed.

  “You’d be dead, though. Do you think I would have just come home and been all right with that?” Keiran asked.

  Jerris shrugged.

  There was a small flare of anger inside the prince, and he stood a little taller. “Damn it, Jerris, that would have pretty effectively fucked me up. You stand here and give me grief that I’m your only friend, but you know damn good and well that’s a two way thing.”

  The guard had very rarely heard Keiran curse out like that, and he looked up at him again.

  Keiran didn’t relent, and he lifted his left hand, poking the guard in the center of the chest. “I’d really appreciate it, Jerris, if you could start having a little God damn faith in me. I’m not abandoning you to become king, and I don’t blame you for anything that happened. If I honestly thought that becoming king was going to end our friendship, you know what I would do?”

 
Jerris gave a small shake of his head, feeling how upset he’d just gotten the prince.

  “I’d pack up my things and leave. You’d be coming with me. Your cousin Saoirse would suddenly be very, very unemployed, and we’d head on out to go see the world. Or something. Maybe we’d take Thana, too. Become goat herders in the mountains or—I don’t know. I never daydreamed about exactly what we’d do after we took off, just that we would. You can’t fault me for some imaginary scenario that I came up with as a little boy.” Keiran let his arm drop back to his side and looked away, having completely embarrassed himself.

  “We did used to talk about that when we were kids, didn’t we?” Jerris felt the hint of a smile creeping up, but he tried to force it back. Maybe this wasn’t the time to laugh at Keiran. Then again, maybe it was. However, he did like goats, and he supposed he could even accept Thana coming along, if it was all one big fantasy that would never happen, anyway.

  “Aye, we did.” The prince frowned for a moment, before meeting the guard’s eyes. “The country needs me to get it going in the right direction. I have to do that, but there’s no reason I can’t do that and still find plenty of time for the two of us to goof off. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to head out now so we can get this over with. If I have to promote you to Grand Councillor to keep you stuck in the throne room all day with me, then that’s what I’ll have to do.”

  Jerris took a step back and raised his hands. “Whoa now, don’t get too crazy with that. I don’t need that kind of pressure on my head. Besides, I can’t even read! I’d make a pretty lousy councillor.”

  “Like Peirte was a good one?”

  The guard had to laugh, even if it was slightly inappropriate. “Uh, well, still, I’m not councillor material, and I know you’re just kidding with me.”

  It was Keiran’s turn to shrug. Jerris wasn’t the right man for the job, he was absolutely correct, but he most certainly could read. The guard liked to act a lot less intelligent than he was. It kept people from expecting too much.